Benefitting the North Castle Public Library
Sat. & Sun., September 26th and September 27th
10 a.m.–5 p.m., rain or shine.

Named one of “The Elite 100” Fine Art and Fine Craft Fairs in the US by Art Fair Sourcebook and among the top “Fine Art and Design Shows” in the New York Metro Area by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the 54th annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show will continue its long tradition of showcasing a fresh and diverse array of art. Over 185 juried artists from 31 states, Israel and Canada, will be featured—42 new to this year’s show. A broad spectrum of media to suit every taste and budget will be on display, including painting, mixed media, printmaking/drawing/pastels, sculpture, photography/digital art, wearable art, and fine crafts.

Sovjani Andrew photo

This year’s show will feature free guided tours, emerging artists, and fun-filled, kid-friendly activities. We will once again offer personal shoppers, who will be available to help visitors find and select art that best fits their taste and decor. There is ample free parking on site, as well as a diverse food court.

Robert Glebe metal

On Friday, September 25th at 7 pm, the North Castle Public Library will show a free documentary entitled “Tim’s Vermeer”. On Saturday, September 26th at 8 pm in the library’s Whippoorwill Hall, Jazz legend Charlie Lagond & Friends will perform “Soulful Serenade…Memphis to Motown to Neo-Soul,” also free to guests.

The Art Show is sponsored by Friends of the North Castle Public Library, Inc., and net proceeds benefit the town’s libraries. Admission price: $10.00, $8.00 for seniors or with coupon, children under 18 free. Sorry, no dogs allowed. For further information, as well as discount coupons, visit www.armonkoutdoorartshow.org. Day of show call: 914-806-6307

New this year for New York City Art Show visitors, Castle Cab Corp. is offering deeply discounted rides ($10 flat rate) to and from the North White Plains train station, with priority drop off at the Show entrance. Cabs will be waiting at the station and the Show, or can be contacted in advance through their app (Castle Cab) or by phone 914-273-2535. Additionally, during Show hours, Castle Cab is offering half price rides anywhere local to and from the Show.

205 Business Park Drive, Armonk, N.Y. (Exits 3/3S off Route I-684). Ten miles north of I-287 and I-95, 5 miles from Merritt and Hutchinson Parkways, 20 minutes from the Tappan Zee Bridge.

JUST SHADES, THE Source for custom and ready made lamp shades, has been serving the trade and public for over 40 years. This “go-to shop” for interior designers and set designers features an extensive selection of modern and traditional shades in a wide range of sizes, from shades small enough to fit a wall sconce to shades large enough to hang as pendants. Our recently opened new store in Greenwich features new and vintage lamps.

Just Shades has been featured in periodicals such as Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times,
House Beautiful, Domino, Elle Décor and Country Living to name a few.
Their custom and ready made shades can be found in restaurants, boutiques, and hotels throughout the country, as well as in numerous movie and TV shows.

Just Shades has the largest selection of ready made lamp shades in the Northeast.
Their shades are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and fabrics.
You can create your own custom shade using one of their 300 plus fabrics,
or you can bring in your own fabric as well.
They can recover, reline or create a new shade to your specifications.

A Staff of expert professionals is always at hand to provide assistance in selecting the perfect shade for your lamp. If you can’t make it in person, assistance is available by phone or email.
There is also a large selection of finials to complete that perfect shade!

It’s not every day that one receives a call from Jodi Rell, former Governor of Connecticut or meets with Dennis Hastert, former speaker of the House. For Laurel Stern Boeck, one of the nation’s foremost portrait artists, working with accomplished and fascinating clients are a unique perk and all in a day’s work. Her success in the competitive field of portraiture is evident in her many prestigious commissions, including esteemed men and women in politics, military, business, judicial and academic circles.

The art of portraiture became the center of Boeck’s world at an early age. “I have always loved drawing and painting. I focused on capturing faces, spending day’s just drawing eyes, then noses, and then mouths. I remember examining the structure of each part of the face, the real character of the person developed as my skills and technique became more advanced.”

While attending the School of Visual Arts in New York, Boeck studied illustration and design. She worked as a freelance illustrator and became an art director for an ad agency in NYC.

Kenneth Standard of the Harvard Club

She continued pursuing her love of portraits while working, and found her mentor in master artist John Murray. She studied with him for many years, learning the craft and techniques of the Old Masters. “That journey toward excellence was one of the most rewarding times in my life.” Boeck recalled, “Each day that I grasped a new concept or mastered a difficult technique was thrilling.” She honed her skills and developed her own unique style, which led to her first portrait commissions, and launched her artistic career.

Boeck’s classical representational style portrays the extraordinary spirit as well as the fine nuances of her subjects. Boeck is widely known for her attention to detail; the appropriate treatment of a client’s hands is as important as the subtle mixture of flesh tones. “I try to be very faithful to the topography of the face, “she says. “Ultimately I want the portrait to reflect the person, if I am faithful to what I see, their personality will come through.”

A most recent representation of her philosophy appears in her portrait of the editor and publisher of this magazine, Grace Bennett. The result is stunning. (See Grace’s own sidebar about the experience!)

Painting has provided her with a wonderful work/life balance. After a day trip to Washington to meet with a subject, Boeck lands at Westchester airport to spend the evening with her husband and children. Most days she paints in the spacious art studio she designed and added to her Bedford home. Part of her mission is to nurture other artists. She does this by teaching at the Katonah Art Center, hosting a painting workshop in her studio and with a personalized mentorship program for artists looking to accelerate their careers and broaden their horizons.

Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House

Boeck believes “the best portraits both capture the essence of the subject, and are infused with the spirit of their life.” Along with famous subjects, Laurel also commissions everyday portrait and event work. For more info, please visit: www.boeckstudio.com

Laurel and I were introduced by a mutual friend. I love art and was intrigued by an offer to sit with an artist who gets to paint all day. It sounded like a dream come true. Little did I know the surprise awaiting me in Laurel’s Westchester studio!

North light windows, a plethora of tubes of paint, brushes galore and several easels filled a high ceiling, airy sunlit room; an office area upstairs accommodates the business of doing art too. Paintings were in full view everywhere, from large and small finished commissions to small, unfinished but still delightful oil sketches.

Grace Bennett

Laurel and I hit it off right away; following tea and treats, her welcoming spirit put me at ease as she spent time considering how to pose and light me on the large model stand.

The sitting proceeded accompanied by conversation and enjoyable background music (she says the music helps her too!). Only on a few occasions did she suggest stillness and silence while working in the area of the eyes or mouth. “I do not mind movement,” she said. “It helps to keep the freshness and eliminates any stiffness in the pose. The true nature is then revealed.” Posing breaks were granted every 20 minutes or so. I was amazed at the painting process and certainly very pleased to view such an appealing representation of myself on canvas!

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